Machine for deliquefying solid material



INVENTOR.

H. .Scmvuo 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. H. SCHMID MACHINE FOR DELIQUEFYING SOLID MATERIAL Filed Jan. 30. 1967 I J 0 O Sept. 16, 1969 Jam BY c/AWA, .zAMLA P 16, 1969 J. H. SCHMID 3,467,003

MACHINE FOR DELIQUEFYING SOLID MATERIAL Filed Jan. 50, 1967 2 Sheets-She et 2 domv H. sumuo INVENTOR.

Mimi

United States Patent 3,467,003 MACHINE FGR DELKQUEFYIN G $01.11) MATERIAL John H. Schmid, Erie, Pa, assignor to Zurn Industries, Inc, Erie, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 612,473 Int. Cl. 83% 9/20, 9/02 US. Cl. 100-116 19 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The broadest aspect of the invention is the use of a compression wheel to compress and dewater the solids of a slurry between two spaced perforated toroidal plates rotated at the same rate of speed about a common axis. The compression wheel is approximately the same as the thickness of the space between the plates with only enough clearance between the sides of the wheel and the plate to allow them to move freely relative to each other. The compression wheel can be located outside or inside the toroid, in either case, its axis is parallel to the axis of the toroid.

This invention relates to machines for deliquefying materials and, more particularly, to machines for squeezing liquid from solid materials.

Various machines have been constructed for squeezing liquids from solids; for example, machines for squeezing water from paper pulp. Some of these machines have utilized a reciprocating plunger that compressed the material in a chamber, and others have compressed the material to be deliquefied between two rotating disks that rotate about non-parallel axes. Still others have used helical screw presses.

The machine disclosed herein in one embodiment shown by way of example utilizes a hollow drum with an outer peripheral groove defined by two generally parallel annular perforated plates. The drum rotates about a fixed axis. A wheel is supported on an axis spaced below the axis of rotation of the drum. The wheel extends into the groove and squeezes the material through the groove and water is squeezed out through the perforations or openings in the plate.

The depth that the compression wheel enters the toroidal space between the plates is not fixed but may vary depending on the characteristics of the slurry to be deliquefied. Either the large plates, or the compression wheel or both, can be driven. The edge of the compression wheel may or may not be serrated, indented, or roughened.

In operation, a compressed cake of solids will occupy the entire space between the plates from the point of compression to the remote periphery. Then, with a pool of slurry at the point of compression, solids will be carried between the wheel and cake, simultaneously compressing solids and expelling water. With continued rotation, the whole body of cake will move to accept the additional compressed solids and so extend beyond the edge of the plates where it can be cut or brushed off with a doctor blade, rotating brush or the like. The edge of the compression wheel can be shaped to something other than a true circle to improve entrapment of slurry between the wheel and cake. The invention may be adapted to multiple sets of plates and compression wheels in a single housing.

With the wheel internal, as shown, the unit can be run either slowly so that the slurry is in a pool at the bottom and submerging at least the lower section of the compression wheel or run fast enough to throw the slurry out centrifugally. With this arrangement, more than one compression wheel may be used in each set of plates. This provides for wide design possibilities to make units most suitable to various types of slurries. The invention Patented Sept. 16, 1969 also makes it possible to replace plates so one can use the perforation size best suited for each type of slurry.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improved deliquefying device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a deliquefying device which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efiicient to use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a deliquefying device for solid materials, which subjects the material to a squeezing pressure and maintains this squeezing pressure on the material for a substantial time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a deliquefying machine which can be operated efiiciently over a plurality of speeds.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a deliquefying device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3 through 8 show other embodiments of the invention.

Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the machine has a base 10 on which the two laterally spaced side members 11 are supported. The shaft 13 is fixed to and supported on the side members 11 at each of its ends. The shaft 13 is hollow, as indicated, and the end 30 may be connected to a suitable source of slurry which may be fed through the shaft into the drum 12. The drum 12 is rotatably supported on the shaft 13 by means of bearings 14 and the drum 12 is driven by a chain 21' and sprocket 16. The sprocket 16 is supported on a pillow block .17, which is fixed to one of the frame side members 11. The sprocket 16 is attached to a shaft 18. Shaft 18 has the pulley 19 on it which is driven by motor pulley 25 by a suitable belt.

The spaced side members 24 are held in positive spaced relation by the spacer rollers 36. The spacer rollers 36 are supported on brackets 37, which may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly by means of studs 38, which are threadably received in the side members 11. These rollers 36 may be adjusted to positively hold the perforated side members 24 in fixed, spaced relation to each other and to absorb side thrust due to the material being forced between the perforated side members.

The drum has the annular sides 21 fixed to the bearings 14. Drum sides 21 define a frustoconical surface. The outer periphery of the annular sides 21 is fixed to the ring members 22. Ring members 22 are in the form of spaced cylinders spaced from each other a distance indicated at 23 and the ring members 22 defining a slot, along with the annular sides 21, form the two drum halves which are rotatably supported on the shaft 13, and the two drum halves are adjusted inwardly by roller 36 to give minimum clearance between the sides of the roll 15 and the inner surface of the perforated plate 24. Inclined bafiles 42 extend from side members 24 toward the center and outward defining frustoconical space, at each side of roll 15.

The perforated side members 24 have holes 40 through which the liquid from the material being dewatered flows when it is forced between the side members 24 by the roller 15. The battle plates 42 deflect the liquid that flows through the holes 40 and direct it laterally to a suitabg repository which could be trough 142, while the soli 3 dewatered material is forced down through the space between the side members 24 and may be dropped into an additional suitable repository 143.

The outer periphery of the roller 15 may be provided with suitable identations, cleats or any other suitable surface to facilitate the movement of the material through the space between the spaced side members 24.

The annular spaced side members 24 are fixed to the ring members 22. These perforated plates may be provided with openings of the correct size and spacing to give optimum results on the particular material being processed. The perforated plates could be screens or other types of straining media. The spaced side members and annular perforated plates 24 are each disposed generally in a plane parallel to the other. The screens may be dished outward and thus provide additional compression on the material squeezed through. The spaced side members 24 are reinforced by the gussets 26 and the structural members 27.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, a machine is shown schematically, which is intended to be similar to the machine shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2. In this embodiment, however, a plurality of rollers 115 are supported on a shaft 113, and this shaft 113 is intended to be rotated by a motor 125. Material to be dewatered is fed in through the hopper 126 and is compressed in the space 123 between the side members 124. With multpile rollers, as shown, the side members could be driven and the rollers could be held fixed.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of spaced plates 324 are supported on bearings 325. Material to be dewatered may be fed through the center adjacent the axis 314. Rollers 315 are supported similar to the manner in which the roller 15 is supported in FIG. 2. The drums indicated at 316 will be driven by a suitable motor M, while the shaft 314 may stand idle.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, shown schematically for the purpose of illustration only, the side plates 424 are supported on a shaft 425 and are held in spaced relation by peripheral bands 427. Shaft 425, may be rotated by a suitable motor similar to the motor 125. A roller 415 is supported inside the drum in the manner that the roller in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is supported. It will be noted that the roller 415 is supported in the space between the side members 421. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the side members 524 define a space between them. The side members are rotated by means of a motor M connected to the shaft 511 in a manner similar to the manner in which the side members 24 in FIG. 2 are rotated. A hopper 516 is supported adjacent the outer periphery of therside members 524, and material to be dewatered may be fed into this hopper 516. Thus, the material that is dewatered will be fed into the top of the machine and will be compressed by roller 515 and discharged through the central opening in the shaft 511.

In operation the slurry is trapped or drawn by the rotation between the compression wheel and the already compressed cake in the same way simple dewatering rolls operate. Water is expelled outwardly through the perforated plates. Some expelled water will find its way back past the roller 415 into the slurry in the cavity defined by plates 424 which would dilute the remaining slurry and reduce the efficiency of the unit, but since the slurry is in contact with perforated plate area on both sides of the wheel, some dewatering will occur due to gravity (or centrifugal action at higher speeds) and at a rate at least equal to the rate of the short circuiting once equilibrium is reached in the system. If the plate were not perforated and instead the system were just the equivalent of simple rolls supplied by a feed box, the unit would become inoperable due to the dilution by the expelled water.

The machine disclosed according to the invention takes advantage of the very small area of tangential contact between the compressed cake and compression wheel to pro- 4 vide extreme high unit area loading on the solids at this point of contact and to the same degree as compression by two simple rolls. But in addition, the compressed solids remain compressed for an extended period until they travel to the remote edge of the plates. This allows ample time for fluid both between and within the solid particles to migrate out of the mass and out through the perforated plates. Also, as fluid does escape, the cake is compressed further to fill the space vacated by the fluid by the continued pressure from the solids being added at the compression wheel. This design which provides high compression of the solids and then retains the solids under this high pressure for a considerable period in a continuous process is the major feature in producing a very dry cake. Plain compression rolls such as those used in dewatering bagasse give high compression but the time during which the solids are under pressure is so short that little if any migration of the fluid in the fibers or in the center of the mass can occur. In screw presses, the time element is present but the length of the path fluid must follow to be free of the mass is so great as to prevent the degree of dewatering accomplished in this unit where the cake can be generated in a very narrow space; also, in screw presses, extreme high friction makes power consumption very high in comparison to that required in the invention disclosed herein. In previous designs of dewatering machines the time feature is also present but since a platen is used, it cannot reach the high compression of the tangential contact of the machine disclosed herein and, in addition, has the disadvantage of not being able to operate continuously or at high speed due to the reciprocating motion.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A machine for deliquefying solid material comprising two spaced members each having a surface adjacent the other generally parallel to the other,

a pressure member located between said spaced members,

first means to feed solid material containing a liquid between said spaced members,

second means to move said spaced members relative to said pressure member, whereby said pressure member continuously engages said material, exerts a pressure on said material, and forces said material between said spaced members and said liquid is squeezed from said material.

2. The machine recited in claim 1 wherein said spaced members have openings therein for said liquid to be squeezed through.

3. The machine recited in claim 2 wherein said spaced members define an opening remote from said pressure member,

and said solid material is adapted to be forced from said opening.

4. The machine recited in claim 1 wherein said pressure member comprises a rotatable member.

5. The machine recited in claim 4 wherein said second means rotates said spaced members about a central axis and said rotatable member is rotated about an axis spaced from said central axis.

6. The machine recited in claim 5 wherein said axis about which said rotatable member is rotated is adjacent the portion of said spaced members most remote from said central axis and said rotatable member is adapted to force said material in a direction toward said central axis.

7. The machine recited in claim 6 wherein means is provided to feed said material betwen said spaced members,

said means to feed said material being adjacent the part of said spaced members remotest from said central axis.

8. The machine recited in claim 5 wherein said rotatable member is adapted to force said material toward said central axis.

9. The machine recited in claim 8 wherein means is provided to feed said material between said spaced members at a position adjacent said axis of rotation.

10. The machine recited in claim 5 wherein said spaced members are in the form of perforated plates,

and said roller has a width approximately equal to the space defined by said spaced members.

11. The machine recited in claim 5 wherein a plurality of said rotatable members is provided each rotated about an axis of rotation,

and the axis of rotation of each said rotatable member is rotated about said central axis.

12. The machine recited in claim 5 wherein means is provided to restrain said plates from moving away from each other when said material is spaced therebetween.

13. The machine recited in claim 12 wherein said means to restrain said spaced members comprises rollers spaced around said central axis,

said rollers being in engagement with Said spaced members.

14. The machine recited in claim 5 wherein deflector members are fixed to the outside of said spaced members for deflecting said liquid outward to a repository.

15. A machine for deliquefying solid material comprising ing a frame,

a hollow horizontal shaft supported on said frame,

a roller supported on said shaft and rotatable about an axis spaced from said shaft,

two spaced drums supported for rotation on said shaft,

said drums each being open on the side facing the other and defining a space therein,

two annular screens each disposed in a plane generally parallel to the other,

one of said annular screens being fixed to the outer periphery of each of said drum,

said screens defining an annular groove therebetween,

said roller having an annular disk like member defining a radially outwardly extending part having generally parallel sides,

a part of said disk extending into said groove,

means to rotate said drums,

and means to limit the spacing of said drums from each other.

17. The machine recited in claim 16 wherein the inside of each of said drums is generally frusto-conical.

18. The machine recited in claim 17 wherein a deflector ring is attached to the outer side of each of said screens,

and means is supported below said deflector plates to receive liquid from said screen.

19. The machine recited in claim 1 wherein said second means rotates said spaced members at a speed sufiicient to throw said solid material radially outward between said spaced members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 390,651 10/1888 Crawford -121 XR 1,238,981 9/1917 Barton 100-116 XR 1,848,332 3/1932 Estes. 2,063,404 12/ 1936 Selman. 3,000,294 9/1961 Lowe et al. 100-121 3,220,340 11/1965 Frykhult 100-121 3,248,263 4/1966 Silver et al. 3,342,124 9/ 1967 Frykhult 100-121 BILLY J. WILHITE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 100-127 

